Sports

Monday Morning Quarterback: The Good, The Bad Of Week 5

Matchup

The Good

The Bad

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers

Terrelle Pryor looked like a legitimate NFL quarterback in the Raiders’ late-night victory over the Chargers as he completed 18-of-23 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. He did not throw an interception. San Diego’s Philip Rivers threw for 411 yards.

While Rivers had another huge yardage total, he threw three interceptions. The Chargers were flat in the first half and Rivers must share some of the responsibility for that uninspired showing.

Neither quarterback has much to brag about. Colin Kaepernick appears to be a shell of the quarterback he was at the end of the 2012 season, but he led his team to a rout of the Texans and he did not throw an interception.

Matt Schaub is under siege. He threw a pick six for the fourth straight game, when his interception was returned to the house by Tramaine Brock just 1:30 into the first quarter. He also threw two other interceptions. Kaepernick was just 6-of-15 for 113 yards.

Just a sensational game by both quarterbacks. Peyton Manning continues his spectacular roll, as he threw for 414 yards and four TDs. Tony Romo was amazing for the Cowboys, throwing for 506 yards with five TDs in nearly leading the Cowboys to the upset of the Broncos.

Romo did everything right except win the game. The primary reason the Cowboys gave up the game-winning field goal was Romo’s interception late in the fourth quarter.

Carson Palmer was far from great, but his mistakes did not cost the Cardinals as much as Cam Newton’s cost the Panthers. Palmer was able to lead his team on two TD drives while completing 19-of-28 passes.

Newton does not have the emotional makeup to play consistently in the NFL. After a brilliant game vs. the Giants in Week Three and a bye week, he should have been razor sharp. Instead, Newton could not get his team into the endzone and he threw three picks. Palmer threw three interceptions as well.

Sam Bradford came back from an awful game against the 49ers in Week Four to torch the hapless Jags by throwing for 222 yards and three touchdowns.

Blaine Gabbert looked better with Justin Blackmon in the lineup than he had previously, but he was just 9-of-19 for 181 yards with 1 TD and 2 interceptions before he injured his hamstring and had to be replaced by Chad Henne. Henne is probably the better option for the Jags going forward.

Alex Smith is mature enough not to be concerned about putting gaudy statistics on the board. He did not throw a TD pass against the Titans, but he led his team to a touchdown and two field goals as the Chiefs pulled away for a solid road win against a good team.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league, but he has a tendency to make bad throws at the wrong time. That was the case against the Chiefs as he threw two interceptions that hurt his team quite a bit.

Nick Foles came on in relief for the injured Michael Vick and led the Eagles on four scoring drives. Foles completed 16-of-25 passes for 197 yards and two TDs. His fourth-quarter TD pass to Brent Celek allowed the Eagles to blunt the Giants' momentum and grasp full control of the game.

Eli Manning can’t stop turning the ball over. He threw three more interceptions and his lack of confidence is palpable. Vick was forced out of the game after making big plays with his legs following a hamstring injury.

Joe Flacco did not do much against the Dolphins – he didn’t have a touchdown pass – but he led the Ravens to a tough victory on the road while throwing for 269 yards.

Ryan Tannehill is a smart and confident quarterback, but he let an opportunity slip through his grasp in this home game against the defending Super Bowl champions. He threw 307 yards and a touchdown, but he couldn’t get away from pressure when the game was on the line.

Andrew Luck has been getting better every week and what will soon make him one of the elite quarterbacks in the game is that he makes plays down the stretch that lead to victory. Luck threw for 229 yards, two touchdowns and did not throw an interception.

Russell Wilson also has the special characteristics that allow him to find a way to win most weeks. However, when he must depend on his arm to make a series of throws down the stretch, he’s merely an average quarterback. He completed just 15-of-31 passes against the Colts, and that percentage is not good enough.

Aaron Rodgers was a workmanlike 20-of-30 for 274 yards with one TD and he did not throw an interception. While Packer fans are used to seeing more yardage and TDs from Rodgers, he is getting help from his running game for the first time in recent memory.

Stafford had decent numbers – 25-of-40 for 262 yards with one TD and no interceptions – but he was unable to lead the Lions offense throughout the majority of the game. Detroit’s offense looked dull and uninspired without Calvin Johnson, but Stafford can’t use that as an excuse.

Andy Dalton led the Bengals to a key victory over the previously unbeaten Patriots as he completed 20-of-27 passes for 212 yards. He threw one interception, but he did not have the plethora of mistakes against the Patriots that could have proven disastrous.

While Dalton kept the turnovers to a minimum, he did not throw one touchdown pass in the game. Tom Brady saw his long 52-game streak of throwing at least one TD pass come to an end. He was 18-of-38 for 197 yards with an interception, and he was unable to lead his team to a tying touchdown in the final minutes while playing in a monsoon.

Drew Brees took apart the Chicago defense, completing 29-of-35 passes for 288 yards with two touchdowns. He led the Saints offense with poise and confidence. Jay Cutler had a decent game for the Bears, completing 24-of-33 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns.

Cutler fumbled the ball twice and he was ineffective in the first half when the Bears fell behind. He could not trade punches with Brees, and his inability to rise to the occasion is a problem for head coach Marc Trestman.

The Browns won their third straight game and they continue to surprise. Brandon Weeden came on in relief and threw for 197 yards and the game-winning touchdown pass.

Brandon Hoyer was playing quite well once again, but a knee injury has sidelined him for the rest of the season. Buffalo quarterback E.J. Manuel also left the game with a knee injury and backup quarterback Jeff Tuel was ineffective.